Education: J.D., University of Colorado; M.B.A., University of Colorado; B.S., West Point

Name a person you admire and explain why: My mother. She taught me the meaning of unconditional love and the importance of seeing the good in all people. Her compassion for others and dedication to service represents the best in each of us.

Colorado unemployment has been at, near or above 8 percent since January. What can/should the Legislature do to spur job creation in the state?

Colorado must create a globally competitive business environment in order to spur job creation. A globally competitive business environment requires sound economic policies, a world-class educational system, new energy solutions and high quality of life. This is why my platform focuses on the "four E's:" Growing our economy, improving education, developing energy and protecting our environment. The state Legislature has an important role to play in all four areas, but our highest priority must be growing our economy through sound economic policies. The state Legislature must maintain a fair and equitable tax structure, create a more efficient regulatory regime and promote market certainty. Maintaining a fair and equitable tax structure requires disciplined legislators who will increase revenue through pro-growth policies rather than job-killing taxes. Creating a more efficient regulatory regime requires the money-saving reforms promoted by my first bill (described below).

Projections show a state budget deficit of up to $500 million next fiscal year. How would you propose cutting spending to address that deficit while protecting funding for programs, such as K-12 or higher education?

Creating a more efficient regulatory regime does not just help business. It helps government by balancing our state budget through cuts in wasteful spending rather than important services. My first bill (described below) would do just that.

If you could introduce a bill tomorrow, what would it be?

My first bill is called the CREATE Jobs Bill (Colorado Requires Economic Advancement Through Efficiency). It will move our state economy forward and create jobs. The bill requires government agencies to conduct a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) prior to creating any new rule or regulation. If the CBA shows that the new rule or regulation would increase government spending or increase the cost of compliance on small business, the agency would have to offset the increase by repealing or revising existing rules and regulations. This bill cuts government spending by forcing government agencies to repeal unnecessary and costly rules and regulations and replace them with more efficient ones. This bill increases the competitiveness of our business environment by reducing the impact rules and regulations have on small business. This is sound economic policy. When it is combined with a world-class educational system, the development of new energy solutions and our high quality of life, Colorado will have the globally competitive business environment we need to get back to work.